POLLEN SOURCES USED BY Apis mellifera LATREILLE IN THE SEMIARID REGION

Abstract This study aimed at identifying the pollen sources used by Apis mellifera L. in the municipality of Itaberaba, State of Bahia. Pollen samples were obtained through collectors installed at the entrance of ten A. mellifera bee colonies, implanted in an apiary at a savanna area, in the months of December of 2006, January, March and December of 2007, period in which high blooming was observed in the area. The quantitative and qualitative analyses were accomplished at the laboratory of Entomology of the Center of Agrarian, Environmental and Biological Sciences of Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, County of Cruz das Almas, State of Bahia, Brazil. Through the analysis of the obtained results, we verified the presence of 78 pollen types, belonging to 24 families. The family Mimosaceae presented the greatest number of pollen types. The results demonstrated the species A. mellifera L. presents generalist habit, and the families Fabaceae-Mimosoidea, Asteraceae, Commelinaceae and Poaceae are the main pollen sources for A. mellifera in region.